Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-04-29


DilIin'ham gatherin'," be cried turn
ing little pale. "Mebby it's some
body over in Bcondtown settlement"
a smoldering spark Of jealousy flaming
up.
ITS the 'stiilery, Gabe," she said,
and suddenly put down the pail to
unburden her trembling hands.
You'uns hadn't ought ter go inter it
"But the crap last year made a
plum failyre," he replied excusingly,
bis eyes shifting slightly under the
light of hers. She was standing by
the spring, against a background Of
dark green, slanting sunbeam shift
ing It's gold dawn through the over
hanging pine on her dark, uncovered
bead, lighting up her earnest face,
lending lustrous fire to her eyes. The
scant cotton skirt and ill-fittiDg bodice
she wore could not destroy the sup
pie grace of her figure, nodded for
strength as we'll as beauty.
The crap wusn't no excuse, an if
you'uns mus make whisky up thar
on the sly, l amt got no more ~ say,
an | amt got no use fer ye."
"Yer mean it, S'phiry AnnW
81 mean it, Gabc
"Then you'uns never keered," he
cried with rising passion, "an' that
half way promise ter marry me was
Jest lie ter fool ne, nothin' but q
lie. I'll make it if | please" bring
ing his hand down ON the bench with
fierce blow
''An' hide in the cayes like q wild
creetur when the rainders air out on
the mountains ?" she scornfully ex-
claimed.
His sunburned face flushed o dull
red, and he writhed under the cruel
question.
"They amt apt ter git me, that's
certain" he muttered.
"You'uns don't know that" more
gently. "Think o. Al Hendries an
them Fletcher boys They thought
themselves to smart for the officers,
but they wasn't. You'uns know how
thsy was caught arter lynn for weeks
a-takin' the sleet an rain an all but
starvin', en- tux down to Atlanty an
put in Jail, an thar they stayed a-pin-
in. | staid long er Al's wife them
days, for she was that skeery she
hated ter see night come, an | amt
forgot how she walked the Goor
a-wringin' a her hands, or settin' deep
over the fire a-dippin' snuff or a
smokin'-'twas all the comfort she
had-an' the chillun's akin for their
pap, an she not a-knowin' if he'd
ever git back Oh! twas turrible
lonesome, plum teart breakin' to the
poor creetur. Then one day, long in
the spring, Al crept in, all broke
down an no count The life gave
outen him, an for while he sot
roun' an tried ter pick up, but the
cold an the Jail had their way, an he
died"
She poured out the brief but trag-
ic story breatblessly, then paused,
looked down, and then up again
"Gabe, | sez ter myself then, none
o. that in your'n, S'phiry Ann, none
O. that In your'n.'D
She raised the bucket and threw
the contents into tub.
Gabe Plummer cast frey glancee at
her, the spirit and firmness she dis
played commanding his admiration,
even while they filled him with rage
against her. Yes, he knew AL Hen
dries' story; he distinctly remember
ed the fury OF resentment his fate
reused among his comrades, the
threats breathed against the law, but
he held himself superior to that un-
fortunate fellow, gifted with keener
wits, a more subtle wariness The stand
S'phiry Ann had taken against him
reused bitter resentment in his soul,
but the fact that be loved her so
strongly made him loatbe to leave
her. A happy dream of one day
having her in his home, prevailing it
with the sweetness of her presence,
had been his close and faithful com.
panion for years, comforting bis lone
ly winter nights when the wind tore
wildly over the mountains, and the
rain beat upon the cabin roof, or Civ
Jag additional glory to languorous
summer Moons, when the cloud shad-
ows seemed to lie mOtionless on the
distant heights, and the sluggish
river fed moisture to the heated val
ley.
What right had she to spoil this
dream before it had become reality?
He could not trust himself to argue
this matter with her then, but alb
ruptly rose to his feet.
"We'uns'l not say any more this
mornin', though 1 do think settin
up Al Hendries' wife agin me is an
onjestice. Me an some o. the boys
air comm down ter ole man Whita-
ker's this evenin', an bein' agreeable
| might step down to see you'uns
agin."
jest as ye please" she quietly re-
piled, then with tinge of color ad-
ded: "If you'uns1 go back ter the
clearin' I'll do jest do jest what /
promised, Gabe."
But without saying whether he
would or would not, Gabe shouldered
his gun and went away.
S'phiry Ann had been very calm
and decided throughout the interview
but the moment her lover disappeared
she sank trembling on the bench, her
face hidden in her hands.
eff it hadn't IA ben for thinkin' o.
Al Hendries' wife | never could "a
stood up agin him." she sighed faint
ly.
A squirrel springing nimbly from q
laurel to a slender chestnut tree paus-
ed on a swaying branch to look at
her, and bird futtered softly in the
sweet gum above her. The sun
slipped under cloud, and when she
rose to GO about ber work the spring
day had grown gray and dull. 1t
sent a shiver through her, as she
stared dejectedly at the overshadow-
ed valley. She had little time,
though. for idle indulgence; she must
be at her washing; and presently,
when the clouds had drifted away and
the sunshine stepped the earth in it's
| warmth apain her SpiritS rosa q